Chapter 2

Uncle Lenard sat beside me. I don't know how long I cried but I can feel my eyes swollen, my throat hurting and my chest being in pain. I am now sitting on a hospital bench, staring out of nowhere. "Rylie, drink this" Uncle Lenard handed me a bottle of water. He cried silently with me a while ago. I know he's hurting too. He's been with my dad since grade school. They are even working in the same company until three years ago when uncle stopped because of health complications. 

Uncle Lenard helped me to drink because my hands are still shaking that I might just spill the water all over my body. He even gave me a sandwich but I don't feel any hunger so I just shook my head. "Thank you for bringing Rylie here" Unlce Lenard then faced and told my friends that. I just stared blankly at all of them. 

"No problem. If there's anything we could still do, we would gladly help" Paul told my uncle. The latter just smiled and stood up "You have helped Rylie a lot and I'm really grateful. You guys should go home now. I bet your parents are worried about you, it's pretty late" he said after glancing at his wristwatch. 

My friends nodded. Vince looked like he wanted to stay but I think he's parents are looking for him. I stood up so I can thank them too. I am very grateful that I have friends that could give me a helping hand when I needed one. Paul gave me a kiss in the forehead and hugged me. I can feel myself tearing up once again. "Just give me a call, okay?" he sweetly told me. I nodded subtly. 

The others did the same and Vince gave me the tighest hug "I love you, okay? Stay strong" he said and kissed my temple. I can't stop my tears anymore. I hope I can be strong again.

They also bid their goodbyes to Loren and Uncle Lenard. I hope they will be home safe and will not face any accident. 

When they left, uncle asked me if I want to see my family inside the morgue but I quickly shook my head looking scared and miserable. I don't know if I can handle that right now, I think I will completely lose my sanity when I see my family in that state.

He said he understand and gave me a quick hug. I stopped crying now but I still let out some silent sobs.

"Do you want to go home or do you want to stay in my house for a while?" He gently asked me. I don't think I can go in that house now. I can't imagine myself going home without my mom asking me where I went, my brothers hugging me and showering my face with kisses and Joel teasing and mocking me.

"Can I stay in your house, tito?" I whispered but loud enough to be heard by him. He gave me a short smile but sadness is evident in his eyes "Of course, Rylie. I'll just call my nephew so he can pick us up" and then he faced Loren who is sitting at the hospital bench and watching us. "Loren, you can go home first. I'll take care of Rylie for now. And thank you for calling me" Tito Lenard handed some bills so Loren can ride a cab home. She gave me a hug first before leaving.

Uncle pulled me gently to sit at the hospital bench again. "Tito? Can we go to the police station first?" the officers left when Tito Lenard told them that everything is too much for a 21 year old me. He told them that he will take care of everything and he'll go to the station by himself but I know I should be the one who'll be going there because it's my family. The officers just told me that the drivers involved are under their custody before finally going back to the station.

"Are you sure, Rylie?" Uncle Lenard looked like he doesn't want to but scared to say no. I just nodded slowly because I want to know the whole story of the accident. He let out a deep sigh before nodding. He checked his phone when someone called. 

"Hello? . . . Okay. We'll be right there" he quickly ended the call and looked at me "My nephew is here. Let's go?" we stood up and I held unto his arm like what I always do to my dad. Tears started to form once again in my eyes when I remember my father. I tried my best not to let it fall and I barely I succeeded. 

We went to the parking lot and a guy who I think is few years older than me raised his hand looking so serious. Tito Lenard walk near him and I just figured out that this is his nephew. The guy opened the backseat door for me and uncle just helped me to enter. I wore my seatbelt and stared outside the car window. 

Uncle Lenard and his nephew entered the car too. "Rylie, this is Lucius, my nephew" I didn't answered and just continued staring outside. "Lucius, drive to the police station first" the guy didn't answered too but he started driving.

No one talked during the ride until we reached the police station. The road is clear since it's past midnight. When we get out of the car and entered the police station, there's a lot of people. I think they are reporters based on their outfit, cameras and video recorders. I felt a little nervous when some of them glanced at us. Some are recording and listening to a police officer who is talking at the center. Behind the police officer who was speaking are the officers who spoke to me a while ago.

"Wait" Lucius quickly stole my attention when he grabbed my arm to stop me from walking. On top of it, he's voice is really deep and heavy, at the same time hoarse and raspy, it's hard to ignore it. "Let's go this way. I think it's not a good idea to go near them" he explained and he let go of my arm. He walked to the opposite way of where the interview are taking part. 

Uncle Lenard went near me and I held unto his arm again. We followed Lucius and we used the stairs on the other side of the building to go to the second floor. I sat down the chair outside a room that uncle pointed. He told me that we'll wait for a few minutes because the officers are still downstairs. They both take a seat too. 

I stared on the door where the name of a police officer is written. Uncle gave me a bottle of water again but I declined it and just continued waiting. However, my phone vibrated continously. I opened it and there's a lot of messages from my friends. Louie even has 8 missed calls. He called me a while ago.

I don't really want to open it so I just opened my gallery instead. The latest photo was the one before we enter the SUV. Dad was holding Jules, James was hugging his leg while Jared is clinging on mine. Mom and Dad is holding each other's hand. Joel had her arms crossed and smirking at the camera. I am doing a peace sign. We are all so happy. Why do this thing needs to happen?

My eyes became blurry because of tears. I go to the next pictures and it was still the photos this afternoon. Few more swipes and the selfies of the triplets showed. I started crying hard. I hugged my phone. My brothers are so young. They are all so innocent. Why do they need to die this early?

I spent few minutes crying and regretting everything. If only I know that this thing will happen, I will go with them. I would gladly face death instead of being alone here. I hugged the phone tighter.

I'm sorry, mom. I should have never refused your offer of coming even though I will just take care of my brothers.

Uncle Lenard gave me hug suddenly and I can hear him silently crying too. I just cried my heart out before I slowly calmed down. He let go of me and wiped his tears, while I just stared on the floor, no energy left to dry my wet cheeks. The phone fell to the ground and I just stared at it. The picture of James, Jules and Jared looking so happy flashed on the screen.

Lucius picked it up and kneeled in front of me. He held my hand and gently put the phone in my palm. And then he sat beside me. I glanced at him who looks so serious, awkward and shy at the same time. Using his hand, he brushed his hair before giving me a box of tissue. 

He didn't talk. He just gave me the tissue. I looked at it first before accepting. But I didn't dry my tears. I just stared at the floor again. Lucius didn't bother me again until the officers came. 

It's Uncle Lenard who talked to them. We went inside with them and they talked about what happened. The high ranking officer sat behind the table and uncle, Lucius and I sat on the chairs on the left, in front of him. I didn't understand much about what they are talking about but when they said that the driver of the car that my dad avoided is drunk that's when I looked to the officer.

"He's drunk?" everyone glanced at me when I spoke. The officer nodded, "Yes, ma'am. According to him, he came from the house of his friend and is on his way back home. The driver of the truck on the other hand, didn't see your family's vehicle and it's too late when he stepped on the brakes."

Before I even processed everything, the door opened and two handcuffed guys entered with three police officers. They sat infront of us and I stared at them. Who among this men, is drunk driving? They both have their heads lowered.

"Mr. Castillo is the driver of the truck while Mr. De Leon is the--" before the officer finished his sentence uncle stood up and pulled the collar of the guy sitting across me. He looked so mad as he punched the guy so hard. I was looking at the scene with wide eyes. I never saw my father's bestfriend being so violent. Tears started forming in my eyes. Everything is too much.

The offficers quickly stopped my uncle and Lucius helped too. I continued sitting and watching them. My whole body shaking is shaking in fear.

"You irresponsible moron!" Tito tried to attack the driver again but Lucius held him so tight "I will make sure you will rot in jail! You stupid piece of shit! Rylie lost her family because of you! You killed my best friend!" my uncle continued to shout and cursed the guy who kept his head low. 

"Uncle! Stop! You're scaring Rylie" Lucius shouted and he sounded so scary that it doubled the fear in me. Uncle LEnard glanced at me who is silently crying and shaking. He took a deep sigh before glaring at the guy and taking a seat once again. I tried to calm myself.

"I'm really sorry" Mr. De Leon said after everyone became so silent. He lifted his head and looked at me "It's my fault. I didn't know that this thing will happen. But please, I have a family who needs and waiting for me. My children are still studying. I can't be in jail. Please, forgive me" he begged. I am slowly filled with anger. How dare he? I fisted my trembling hands and I stared directly into his eyes

"Sir. . ." no one talked when I started speaking "You still have your family at home, while mine is inside the morgue, dead" My sobs filled the whole room. I stood up and went near him, I hit his shoulder, repeatedly "Why do you need to drink? My brothers are young, they are just seven. I haven't fulfilled my promise to my parents. I still wanted to give Joel a gift from my first salary. Why did you kill them?" I covered my face with my hands and cried harder. "You should never drive if you know you're drunk. If only you think about that. My family would still be alive right now" I now feel myself having difficulty to breathe so I held my chest.

'I'm sorry mom, dad if I have this feeling that I wanted to kill him.'

Someone lighly pulled me away from Mr. De Leon and supported my weight because I was about to fall since I'm dizzy and my knees are shaking. He held my waist tightly when I lose my balance. I met the gray and worried eyes of Lucius. I felt his gentle touch on my face when I closed my eyes. I heard everyone panicking before everything went black.